Echinocereus rigidissimus or Arizona Rainbow Cactus

Care of the cacti Echinocereus rigidissimus or Arizona Rainbow Cactus

The genus Echinocereus, family Cactaceae, includes some 50 species of cacti native to Mexico and the USA. Some species are: Echinocereus rigidissimus, Echinocereus cinerascens, Echinocereus pentalophus, Echinocereus sciurus, Echinocereus pectinatus, Echinocereus blanckii, Echinocereus baileyi.

Common names: Arizona Rainbow Cactus, Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus, Sonorian Rainbow Cactus, Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus. This species is native to Chihuahua and Sonora (Mexico) and Arizona (USA).

They are cacti with a cylindrical green stem that reach 18 cm (7.08") in height. In the areoles of the tubercles they have 30-35 radial spines 5 mm (0.19") long and purplish red. They do not have central spines. The showy flowers up to 9 cm in diameter are pink with a white center. They produce spiny ovoid fruits of pink color.

Arizona Rainbow Cactus is used in rockeries, in cactus and succulent gardens and in pots for patios, terraces, balconies and windows.

Echinocereus rigidissimus needs full sun exposure and a hot, dry climate. The temperature should not be lower than 5 ºC (41 ºF).

Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus will grows in any well-drained soil such as a commercial cactus potting mix or a mixture of equal parts coarse sand and leaf mulch.

Water moderately at a rate of once every 15 days in spring, every 7 days in summer and every 20-25 days in autumn. Do not water in winter.

Fertilize with mineral fertilizer for cacti once in spring and again in early summer.

Arizona Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus does not need pruning.

Echinocereus rigidissimus is a plant resistant to the usual pests and diseases but sensitive to excess watering.

Sonorian Rainbow Cactus is easily propagated from spring sown seeds.